Remote indication apparatus



Dec. 20, 1938. A, w 2,141,060

REMOTE INDICATION APPARATUS Filed. Nov. 20, 1937 I HIS ATTORNEY PatentedDec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2141.060 REMOTE inmoArronAPPARATUS Arthur E. Dodd, Edgewood, :Pa.,' assignor' to The Union Switch& Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication November 20, 1937, Serial No. 175,672

3 Claims, (Cl. era-124) v the conductors 9 and II] by a resistor I5 andare My invention relates to remote indication apparatus of the typewherein a pair of line wires are supplied wit'h unidirectional currentin one :dire'cti'oni'or the'other or with alternating current from asource of alternating current.

One feature of my invention is the provision of apparatus'of thischaracter wherein normally inactive asymmetric units, such as electronictubes, are utilized for controlling the character of the currentsupplied to the pair of wires, and wherein the tubes are rendered activewhen and only when an indication is to be transmitted.

Another feature-of my invention is the use of asymmetric units of theglow lamp type receiving energy from said pair of wires for providingvisual indications without the use of auxiliary devices, such as relays.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shallthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters I and 2 designate therails of a stretch of railway track which are divided by insulatedjoints 3 into track sections IT and 2T. Each track section is providedwith the usual track circuit which includes a battery 4 and track relaysITR and 2TB, respectively. The relays ITR and 2TB may, however, beoperated or controlled in any desired manner, the track circuit controlbeing illustrated merely as an example.

The reference character P designates a transformer having a primarywinding 5 and three secondary windings 6, I, and 8. The primary winding5 is constantly supplied with alternating current from a source which isnot shown in the drawing. Secondary winding 1 is connected to line wires9 and ID by two normally inactive asymmetric units, here shown aselectronic tubes ITZ and 2TZ. Tubes ITZ and 2TZ are poled in oppositedirections, as indicated by the arrows, and are connected in multiplewith each other. Filament II of tube ITZ receives energy from secondarywinding 6 through an easily traced circuit including back contact I2 oftrack relay ITR, and filament I3 of tube 2TZ receives energy fromsecondary winding 8 through another easily traced circuit including backcontact I4 of track relay 2TR.

The two line wires 9 and I0 connect the apparatus thus far referred towith two asymmetric units ITK and ZTK, here shown as glow lamps. LampsITK and 2TK are each connected across arrows.

poled in opposite directions as indicated by the Resistor I5 .is, ofcourse, provided for regulating the value of the current supplied tolamps ITK and ZTK. v

I shall now assume that track section IT becomes occupied, therebyd'een'ergizing relay ITR. Electronic tube ITZ will then be renderedactive because its filament II will be receiving energy over "thepreviously mentioned circuit for this filament. When tube "ITZ becomesactive, a cir- "cuit will be established forglow lamp ITK, which circuitmay be traced over a path which passes from lower terminal of secondarywinding 1 through wire I0, resistor I5, lamp ITK, wire 9 and tube ITZ,to the upper terminal of secondary winding I.

If track section 2T instead of IT becomes occupied, track relay 2TB willbecome deenergized, thereby rendering tube 2TZ active to establish acircuit for glow lamp ITK. This circuit may be traced over a path whichpasses from the upper terminal of secondary winding 1 through tube ZTZ,wire 9, lamp ZTK, resistor I5, and wire II) to the lower terminal ofsecondary winding 1.

If now both track sections IT and 2T become occupied, both track relayswill become deenergized. Under this condition both tubes ITZ and 2TZwill be rendered active so that alternating current will be supplied towires 9 and ID from secondary winding I to cause both glow lamps ITK andZTK to become lighted.

From the foregoing description of the apparatus embodying my invention,it will be seen that when track section IT is occupied, lamp ITK willprovide a visual indication of this condition, and that when 2T isoccupied, glow lamp ZTK will provide a visual indication of thiscondition. It, of course, follows that when both sections are occupied,the lighting of both lamps will indicate this condition.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a pair of conductors, a pair of lamps each having oneof its terminals connected to one of said conductors and having itsother terminal connected to the other of said conductors whereby saidlamps are illuminated by current supplied over said conductors, each ofsaid lamps being of a type which is illuminated only when supplied withcurrent of one relative polarity, said lamps being connected to said.conductors in such a manner that one of said lamps is illuminated whenthe conductors are supplied with current of one relative polarity and sothat the other of the lamps is illuminated when the conductors aresupplied with current of the other relative polarity, means forsupplying current of one relative polarity to said conductors, and meansfor supplying current of the other relative polarity to said conductors.

2. In combination, a pair of conductors, a pair of lamps each having oneof its terminals connected to one of said conductors and having itsother terminal connected to the other of said conductors whereby saidlamps are illuminated by current supplied over said conductors, each ofsaid lamps being of a type which is illuminated only when supplied withcurrent of one relative polarity, said lamps being connected to saidconductors in such a manner that one of said lamps is illuminated whenthe conductors are supplied with current of one relative polarity and sothat the other of the lamps is illuminated when the conductors aresupplied with current of the other relative polarity, means forsupplying impulses of current of one relative polarity to saidconductors, means for supplying impulses of current of the otherrelative polarity to said conductors,

' said means being arranged so that the impulses of current supplied byeach occur at times intermediate the impulses supplied by the otherwhereby when both means are effective to supply current to saidconductors the conductors are alternately supplied with current ofdifferent relative polarities.

3. In combination, a pair of conductors, a pair of lamps each having oneof its terminals connected to one of said conductors and having itsother terminal connected to the other of said conductors whereby saidlamps are illuminated by current supplied over said conductors, each ofsaid lamps being of a type which is illuminated onlywhen supplied withcurrent of one relative polarity, said'lamps being connected to saidconductors in such a manner that one of said lamps is illuminated whenthe conductors are supplied with current of one relative polarity and sothat the other of the lamps is illuminated when the conductors aresupplied with current of the other relative polarity, a source ofalternating current, means for supplying current from said source ofalternating current to said conductors through a circuit including an.asymmetric unit adapted to permit flow of current of one relativepolarity only, whereby said conductors are supplied with impulses ofcurrent of one relative polarity, and means for supplyingcurrent fromsaid source of alternating current to said conductors through anotherasymmetric unit adapted to permit flow of current of the other relativepolarity only, whereby said conductors are supplied with impulses ofcurrent of the other relative polarity.

ARTHUR E. DODD.

